tourgee



(No Model.) 2Sh tS -Sheet 1. A. W; TOURGEE 8v L. DE F. JENNINGS.

HARNESS. Y No. 347,210. Patented Aug. 10,:1886.

WITNESSES: Q5 S S INVENTORSI SSS, Wk

N. PETERS. Phmlkhu raphar. Walhllflan. QC

2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

N Model.)

A. w; TOURGEE-& L. DEN JENNINGS.

HARNESS.

' Patented Aug 10,1886.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES 3 ,PATENT Erica.

ALBION w. TOURGEE {AND 'LINsoN DE F. JE INGS, on MAYVILIIE, N. Y.

HARNESS.

1SPECIPICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No, 347,210, dated August10, 1886.

i Application filed November 23,1885. Serial No.183,653. (No model.)

To all whom it puny-concern.-

Be it know u that we, ALBION \V. TOURGEE and LINsoN DE F. JENNINGS,citizens of the United States, residing at Mayville, in the county ofChautauqua and State .of New York, have invented certain newand usefulImprovements in Harness; and we do de-- clare the following to be afull, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

Our present invention has for its object to provide an improved, novel,and simplified construct-ion of harness in which metal is substitutedfor leather in all the several parts of the same, with the exception ofthe reins or lines, and said parts being of novel and peculiar shape,and adjustable with relation to each other to promote ease ofadjustment, and

secure greater strength, smoothness, and durability; and our improvementconsists, essentially, of the details of construction and generalarrangement of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, andspecifically pointed out in the claims.

I In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective viewof our invention, and Figs. 2 to 5 enlarged detail views thereof.

Similar letters of reference occurring on the several figures indicatecorresponding parts.

In carrying out our improvements we substitute for the leather parts andstraps of the ordinary harness a series of overlapping metallic platesof different lengths and widths, according to the particular use towhich each is to be applied, said plates being made of parallelograms ofany suitable light sheet metal, but preferably of sheet-steel,turned upat each side, and. either. hinged or adjustably riveted together, thehinge being used where no adjustability is required, and the rivet .inone part, operating in connection with a slot in a correspondingpart,beingused where it may be deemed necessary or desirable to lengthen orshorten the construction.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the metallic plates having thesides thereof turned up or rounded so as to present a smoothbearing-surface, and provided near one end with an upwardly-projectingrivet or bolt, (1, and .near the opposite end with an elongated slot,b,-as shown. The rivet or bolt of one plateis adapted to project throughthe slot in the next quence,:aceording to ,the length desired, and therivet headed down, or a nutsereu'ed upon the threaded bolt to join theparts together in such manner as to permit of the ready extension orcontraction of the parts. The ends of the plates A may, however, becurved or rounded over a narrow link, 0, which serves to secure theplates together, and at the same time acts as a hinge for the freemovement of the same. It may also be observed that the edges of theslotted portion 1) of the plates may be slightly raised, as shown inFig. 4, so as to tighten the hold or purchaseof the nut or riveted headof the bolt or rivet a. I The bridle constituting a part of this harnessis of peculiar form, and is constructed in the following manner: A lineof the hinged or hinged and slotted plates interspersed extends from thebridle, at the part marked 0, down to the-collarl), said plates being sounited as to form acontinuous spring, which exerts its strength in suchdirection as to press the head of the animal away from his breast, theeffect of the whole line serving to keep the horses head in any'desiredposition, since by the adjustment of the parts the spring may be madeweak or strong, or set for any point in the line of movement which hishead may take. The plates in this construction should be so shaped as tosnugly fit the part or parts to which they are to be applied, those fromthe points a to 0 being curved inwardly and almost entirely hiddenbetween the inferior parts of the lower jaw of the animal, while theplates along the neck from the point 0 to b are curved outwardly, soas'to fit the contour of the neck. The brow-piece A of the bridle isformed of two parts or sections hinged to the neckrpieces B, one on eachside, and united together at the front by an ordinary snap-lock, theoverlapping ends of the united plates forming said brow band or piece Abeing so arranged as to partake of the nature of an outwardly-actingspring. The neck-pieces B are also formed of a series of the overlappingmetallic plates sncceedingplate, and so on in consecutive sealreadydescribed, and are attached by hinges to the throat-piece C on eachside, the lower piece extending beyond the hinge 011 the upper side ofthe throat-piece, and by being pressed against it constitutes anoutwardly-acting spring for holding the neck-pieces in place. A suitablesnap-lock unites the neck-pieces B upon the top ot'the neck oftheanimal,while the brow band or piece A is connected to said neckpieces,as already above described. The th roatpiece 0 of thebridle is formed ofa metallic plate, convex on its upper surface and concave beneath, andof a width corresponding to that of the horses jaw at its articulationwith the neck. It is hinged on each side to the neckpieces 1;, and atits front similarly connected to the chilrpicce 1), while at its rear itis similarly connected to the check-piece E. The chin-piece D of thebridle is composed of an extensible steel strap, made of two or morepieces of the general character already specified, of a greater width,and curved upward and outward at the lower end, so as to fit the form ofthe horses chin, and is attached to the mouth-piece (Z on each side, asshown. The lower end of the ehin-piece D is forked or bifurcated, havingthe edges rounded and turned upward, so as to rest against and clasp thechin of the horse, while above the mouth-piece d it is made of narrowerpieces, overlapping and adjustable and curved inwardly, so as to easilyfit the hollow under the horsesjaw, from which point it is graduallywidened as it approaches the upper end, where it engages by means of astraphinge with the throatpiece G. The mouth-piece d is composed of twocurved plates, one on each side, and provided at their upper-ends with asuitable opening for the reception of the ends of a bit of ordinaryconstruction. Each of these plates are connected to a lower plate,formed solid with the chin-piece Done on each sidepreferably by a boltwith set-screw operating in the slotsu". At the point of connection withthe chiirpicce I) of the bifurcated or forked end an elongated slot isprovided in one part and a bolt and set-screw in the opposite part, bymeans of which the chinpiece can be abbreviated or extended. Byloosening the piece the bit can readily be removed from the horsesmouth, and by extending it so as to rest closely against the chin thebit is held in place and the bridle rendered impossible of removal. Thecheek-piece E is of the same general formation as the other parts, theoverlapping ends of the pieces of which it is composed being so arrangedas to constitute an inwardly-acting sprin The checkpiece E extends fromthe throat-piece C to the inner portion of the collar, along the underside of the horses neck, as fully shown in the drawings. 4

The collar forming a portion of our improved harness is of the samegeneral shape U and character as the metallic collars for which separateapplications for Letters Patent have heretofore been made by A. \V.Tourgee, ex-

cept that the side pieces composing the collar, instead of being made ofone piece, are made of several overlapping pieces of sheet metalpreferably sheet-steelstruck into the proper form and united by hingedattachments and slotted, so as to permit of ready adjustment. It differsalso from the former inventions above referred to in the fact that theside wings or pieces are attached to the cap or pad at the top, not byrivets, but by acircular straphinge, c, constituting an auto maticadjustment and permitting a swinging motion back and forth to the sidepieces. It difiersstill furtherin thefact thatthe cap or pad at the topof the collar in the former inventions is extended downward along thecollar to the pointof the shoulder. In theprescnt invention this pad orcap is made of some pliable sheet n1etalpreferably galvanized iron orzincstrengthened at the top by an overlying sheet of steel, whichcarries the circular wire stirrup to which is hinged the side pieces ofthe collar, the wire being turned in under the edges of the pad orneck-piece. The sides of this pad extending downward along the shoulderare readily fitted to its shape, and,as they are not moved by any actionof the collar, constitute a washer of smooth soft metal interveningbetween the traction force applied through the collar and the shoulderof the draft-animal. By means of this improved construction bruising,galling, or abrasion of the shoulders are avoided. The lower part ofthis inner portion of the collar may also be hinged to the strongerpart,forming the pad diagonally, so as to permit of its being openedduring the operation of putting on or taking off the collar, and withoutpermitting'any lateral motion or in any manner interfering with itsfunctions as a washer or guard for the shoulders. The rear edge of thecollar on its outer portion is also rolled over for such distance as maybe necessary, so as to allow of the free operation of the hame which itineloses. This hame may be formed of a series of overlapping plates,butpreferably is a solid piece of metal convexed on the outer surface,so as to lit the curve of the collar, and having a thread cut in it toreceive the trace-loopf, which has a screw of corresponding size. Thiscurved part of the collar is perforated at intervals, so as to permit ofthe easy adjustment of the traction point to suitthe need of differentanimalls and other circumstances. The trace-loop f is composed simply ofa bolt having one end threaded to screw into the hame, and provided atthe opposite end with a perpendicular slot, g, for the reception of thetrace, hereinafter to be described. The rein-rings F are formed of ametallic spring secured at its center to the top of the cap of thec0llar,and having its outer ends curved up, as shown, for the receptionof the reins. The same principle applies also to rein-supports on thepad or harness'saddle.

The harness-saddle forming a part of our improved harness is formed oftwo flat metallic wings, h, hinged to a connecting plate or strap,i,carrying, if desired, a terret. These wings h are composed of one ormore pieces of sheet metal slightly turned up at the edges, or the edgesturned over on themselves, and having countersunk depressions on theunder side-for the attachment of rein-rings and connecting devices. Vhenmade in separate parts, these wings are constructed inthe same manner asthe rest of the harness, of hinged and slotted sections, the overlappingends making a continuous outward acting spring. The rein rings orsupports are preferably of the character already described, composed ofa spring secured at its center to the connecting plate or strap of thesaddle, and having its outer ends curved up or bent into the form of aring, as shown in the drawings.

The girth F, attached to the harness-sad dle, is composed of a metalliccenter piece, i, adapted to the .shapeofthe horse along the sternum andfitted with suitable loops and adjustments. The central loop, k, infront is for the attachment of the martingale. To this is attached oneach side a strap composed of adjustable plates, the overlap of whichconstitutes an outwardly-acting spring.

The ends of the wing-plates of the harnesssaddle and the ends of thecenter-piece, i, are connected by straps Z, fastened to the latter by athimble-one on each side-and working through a loop in the ends of theformer. The back-strap G is composed of a simple line of links of thecharacter designated, part of which are slotted to permit of readyadjustment, and extending from the crupper to the saddle, or, ifdesired, extending forward to the collar. The crupper H is composed oflinks shaped likethe surface of an ordinary crupper, the inner edgesoverlapping and forming an outward-acting spring, the whole fasteningbyasuitable catch upon either side of the extremity of the back-strap.Theside straps, J are composed of sections of the links alreadydescribed, hinged to the back-strap and to the breeching, some of saidlinks being preferably adjustable. The breeching is made in the samemanner as the rest of the harness, except that the back part is composedof a-flattened metallic tube of sufficient width to receive the metallicstraps m, composing the sides, which are preferably held in place byset-screws or other suitable devices forpermitting the extension of thebreeching, so as to fit a large or a small animal. The traces K areformed of the overlapping plates or hinged fiat links, as may be deemedmost preferable, and are provided with suitable attaching devices forconnecting with the collar and single-trees.

Having thus described, our invention, What we claim as new and usefulis- 1. The herein-described harness. composed of the bridle formed ofthe brow-band A, side straps, B, throat-piece O, mouthpiece D, andcheck-piece E, the collar and harnesssaddle formed as described, and thebackstrap G, crupper H, side straps, J, and breeching, the several partsbeing formed of a series of Inetallic plates, substantially as setforth.

2. In a harness constructed as described,the bridle composed of thebrow-band A, side straps, B, throat-piece O, mouthpiece D, andcheck-piece E, the several parts being formed of a series of overlappingmetallic plates or sections connected together substantially in themanner as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a harness, the backstrap G, side straps, J, breeching m, andtraces K, formed of a series of metallic plates or sections connectedtogether to secure an adjustability of the several parts, substantiallyas specified.

4. In a harness, the breeching m, formed of a series of metallic platesor sections adjustably connected to aflattened metallic tube,substantially as shown, and for the purpose specifled;

5. In a harness, the girth F, having-a metallic center piece, i,provided with a central loop, k, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ALBION W. TOURGEE. LINSON DE F. JENNINGS.

Witnesses:

S. M. JENNINGS, S. E. KILBOURNE.

